The DPT Vaccination

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT DIPHTHERIA, TETANUS,
AND PERTUSSIS
(WHOOPING COUGH) AND
THEIR PREVENTION

There are many ways you can help protect your child ... and help him or her lead a happy, healthy life.

One of the best places to start is to be sure that your child receives a complete vaccination series before starting school.

For example, children should be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (also called "whooping cough") ... diseases that at one time caused serious illness and even death in thousands of children in the United States. This vaccine, called a DTP vaccine, will reduce the chance of your child getting one of these diseases.

Today, there's a newer type of DTP vaccine available called an acellular DTP vaccine. Acellular DTP vaccine not only helps protect your child but does it more comfortably by reducing some of the side effects that have been associated with whole- cell DTP vaccine. More about acellular and whole-cell DTP vaccines later. After reading this, you should be better informed about DTP vaccine options. Be sure to talk with your doctor about which type of DTP vaccine is right for your child.

What is diphtheria?

Diphtheria is a very serious disease that can cause fever and weakness and make it difficult to breathe. Sometimes it can even cause heart failure or paralysis. About one out of every 10 people who gets diphtheria will die from it.

How has vaccination helped protect against diphtheria?

In the United States, vaccination has significantly reduced the incidence of diphtheria. From 1990 through 1994, only 15 cases were reported.

What is tetanus?

Tetanus is a serious disease that causes the, muscles of the body to become rigid and go into spasms, and may make it difficult to open your mouth. That's why tetanus is often called "lockjaw." Three out of every 10 people who get tetanus will die of it.

How has vaccination helped protect against tetanus?

In the United States, vaccination has significantly reduced the incidence of tetanus. in fact, only about 57 cases of tetanus occur each year.

What is pertussis?

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a serious disease that causes severe coughing spells that have a characteristic "whooping" sound that gives the disease its common name. These coughing spells can interfere with eating, drinking, and even breathing. Some children may develop convulsions or even serious brain disorders.

How has vaccination helped protect against pertussis?

Before the discovery and widespread use of a vaccine, the incidence of pertussis was extremely high. In 1934, for example, approximately 266,000 times were reported, the highest number ever recorded for this disease. Today, vaccination has greatly reduced the incidence of pertussis to about 5,000 cases annually.

Why should I vaccinate my child with DTP vaccine?

Even with the best medical care, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis cannot be easily treated, The best way to control these diseases is to prevent them with vaccination.

How often should DTP vaccine be given? The DTP vaccine is actually three vaccines combined into one shot to make it easier to get protection. In the United States, it is recommended that children receive doses at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 18 months of age, and a fifth dose at 4 to 6 years. 

Is there more than one type of DTP
vaccine available?

Today, there are two types of DTP vaccine.
There is a whole-cell DTP vaccine
(which has been used in the United States
for over 40 years), and a newer type of
vaccine, called an acellular DTP vaccine.                                                          What is acellular DTP vaccine?

Acellular DTP vaccine contains only certain parts of the Bordetella pertussis bacterium cell, combined with the diphtheria and tetanus parts of the vaccine.

The acellular DTP vaccine provides protection against whooping cough that is as good as or better than the protection provided by the whole-cell DTP vaccine. And, the acellular DTP vaccine causes fewer side effects and less discomfort than the older whole-cell vaccine. When. using acellular DTP vaccine instead of whole-cell DTP vaccine, the acellular DTP vaccine is given at 2, 4, 6, and 15 to 20 months of age, and at 4 to 6 years.

What is whole-cell DPT vacccine?

The older whole-cell DPT vaccine uses the whole pertussis organism which has been inactivated and combined with the diphtheria and tetanus parts of the vaccine to make the whole-cell DTP vaccine.

Since the 1950's, the widespread use of the whole-cell DPT vaccine has greatly reduced the number of deaths due to pertussis.  However, the vaccine has been associated with minor side effects. Occasionally, more severe side effects have been reported, but are rare.

Some of the side effects that occur more often with whole-cell DTP vaccine

Which type of DTP vaccine whole-cell or acellular is right for my child? 

Both types of DTP vaccine can help protect your children against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. However you should know that the older whole-cell DTP vaccine has been more frequently associated with minor side effects. The newer acellular DTP vaccine provides equal or greater protection against disease, with fewer side effects and greater comfort for your child.

Two acellular DTP vaccines have been in use in the United States for toddlers (aged 15 to 20 months) since 1992. Recently, however, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the American Academy of Physicians (AAP), have recommended the acellular vaccine for use in infants (aged 2, 4, and 6 months). This means-your child can now have the comfort and protection of an acellular DTP vaccine.

It is important to remember that the risk of someone acquiring one of these diseases is greater than the risk of a serious reaction from the vaccination. There may be reasons why your child should not receive DTP vaccine. These include, but are not limited to, hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine, any serious reaction following the previous immunization, and other situations. You should review your child's previous and current health status with his or her doctor. As with other vaccines, this vaccine may not protect 100% of all those who are vaccinated. Ask your doctor which type of DTP vaccine your child should receive, and when he or she should receive it.